The purpose of this list is to indicate which international instruments are applicable to this act, i.e. which articles of which international instruments may have been violated. This is a quite complex list and should only be used by those organisations to whom it is particularly important and who have expertise in the field of international law.

This list is based on "Supporting Document L: List of Instruments" (1).

This list has been extracted from "International instruments relating to human rights: classification and status of ratifications as of 1 January 1998" (2). A second source was Human Rights: Major International Instruments: Status as at 31 May 2000 (3). For updating the list, research was carried out on the Web sites of various international organisations (4).

The following abbreviations are used in this list:

ECHR - European Convention on Human Rights (1950) - formally entitled Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
ILO - International Labour Organization
OAS - Organization of American States
OAU - Organization of African Unity
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
The original codes from the Supporting Document are included in the column 1st ed. Code. The Source Code in the fourth column is the code used in the "International instruments relating to human rights: classification and status of ratifications as of 1 January 1998".

This list is a hierarchical list with three levels, as described in Rule No. 3 in the Introduction.

This Micro-thesaurus is used for field 2155 International Instruments in the Act format.

CODE TERM 1ST ED. CODE SOURCE CODE
01 Universal A  
01 01 Charter of the United Nations (1945)    
01 02 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) A0  
01 03 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) A1  
01 04 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) A2  
01 04 01 Declaration Regarding Article 41 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (concerning the competence of the Human Rights Committee to receive communications by one State Party against another) (1966) A3 2i
01 04 02 Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) A4 3
01 04 03 Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty (1989) A5 3a
02 Regional B  
02 01 European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (1950) - formally entitled Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms B1 4
02 01 01 Declaration Regarding Article 25 of the ECHR (1950) B2 4i
02 01 02 Declaration Regarding Article 46 of the ECHR (1950) B3 4ii
02 01 03 Additional Protocol to the ECHR (1952) B4 5
02 01 04 Protocol No. 2 to the ECHR, Conferring upon the European Court of Human Rights Competence to Give Advisory Opinions (1963) B5 6
02 01 05 Protocol No. 3 to the ECHR, Amending Articles 29, 30 and 34 of the Convention (1963)   7
02 01 06 Protocol No. 4 to the ECHR, Securing Certain Rights and Freedoms other than Those Already Included in the Convention and in the First Protocol Thereto (1963) B6 8
02 01 07 Protocol No. 5 to the ECHR Amending Articles 22 and 40 of the Convention (1966)   9
02 01 08 Protocol No. 6 to the ECHR, concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty (1983) B7 10
02 01 09 Protocol No. 7 to the ECHR (recognition of new rights) (1984) B8 11
02 01 10 Protocol No. 8 to the ECHR concerning the Improvement and the Expediting of the Procedure of the European Commission on Human Rights (1985) B9 12
02 01 11 Protocol No. 9 to the to the ECHR (right of individuals to refer cases to the court) (1990) B10 12a
02 01 12 Protocol No. 10 to the ECHR (1992) B11 12b
02 01 13 Protocol No. 11 to the ECHR (1994) (restructuring the control machinery) replaces Protocols nos. 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 and 10 and repeals Articles 25 and 46)   12c
02 01 14 Protocol No. 12 to the ECHR (2000)    
02 02 European Agreement relating to Persons Participating in Proceedings of the European Commission and Court of Human Rights (1969) B12 13
02 03 European Agreement relating to Persons Participating in Proceedings of the European Court of Human Rights (1996)   13a
02 04 European Social Charter (1961) B13 14
02 04 01 Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter (1988) B14 14a
02 04 02 Protocol Amending the European Social Charter (1991) B15 14b
02 04 03 Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter Providing for a System of Collective Complaints (1995)   14c
02 04 04 European Social Charter (Revised) (1996)   14d
02 05 American Convention on Human Rights (1969) B16 15
02 05 01 Declaration Regarding Article 45 of the American Convention on Human Rights (1978)   15i
02 05 02 Declaration Regarding Article 62 of the American Convention on Human Rights (1978)   15ii
02 05 03 Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1988) B17 15a
02 05 04 Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty (1990) B18 15b
02 06 African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (1981) B19 16
02 06 01 Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (1998)    
02 07 Arab Charter on Human Rights (1994)   16a
03 Instruments concerning Prevention of Discrimination C  
03 01 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965) C1 66
03 01 01 Declaration Regarding Article 14 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965) C2 66i
03 02 International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (1973) C3 67
03 03 International Convention against Apartheid in Sports (1985) C4 67a
03 04 Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination based on Religion or Belief (1981)    
03 05 UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960) C6 70
03 06 UNESCO Protocol Instituting a Conciliation and Good Offices Commission to be Responsible for Seeking the Settlement of any Disputes which May Arise between States Parties to the Convention Against Discrimination in Education (1962) C7 71
03 07 UNESCO Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (1978)    
03 08 UNESCO Declaration on Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and to Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War (1978)    
03 09 ILO Convention (No. 100) concerning Equal Remuneration for Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value (1951) C5 69
03 10 ILO Convention (No. 111) concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation (1958) C8 72
03 11 ILO Convention (No. 156) concerning Equal Opportunities and Equal Treatment for Men and Women Workers: Workers with Family Responsibilities (1981) C9  
04 Instruments concerning Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity D  
04 01 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948) D1 17
04 02 Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity (1968) D2 18
04 03 Principles of International Co-operation in the Detection, Arrest, Extradition and Punishment of Persons Guilty of War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity (1973)    
04 04 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998)    
04 05 European Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes (1974) D6 19
04 06 European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987) D7 25a
04 06 01 Protocol no. 1 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1993)    
04 06 02 Protocol no. 2 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1993)    
04 07 Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture (1985) D8 25b
04 08 Inter-American Convention on the Forced Disappearance of Persons (1994)   25c
05 Instruments concerning Slavery, Traffic in Persons, Forced Labour E  
05 01 Slavery Convention Signed at Geneva on 25 September 1926 and Amended by the Protocol (1926, 1953) E1 20
05 01 01 Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery (1956) E2 21
05 02 Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (1949) E3 22
05 03 ILO Convention (No. 29) concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour (1930) E4 23
05 04 ILO Convention (No. 105) concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour (1957) E5 24
05 05 ILO Convention (No. 138) concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment (1973)    
05 06 ILO Convention (No. 182) concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (1999)    
05 07 Inter-American Convention on International Traffic in Minors (1994)    
06 Instruments concerning Asylum F  
06 01 OAS Convention on Asylum (1928) F1 26
06 02 OAS Convention on Political Asylum (1933) F2 27
06 03 OAS Convention on Diplomatic Asylum (1954) F3 28
06 04 OAS Convention on Territorial Asylum (1954) F4 29
07 Instruments concerning Freedom of Information G  
07 01 Convention on the International Right of Correction (1952) G1 30
07 02 Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerized Personal Data Files (1990)    
07 03 European Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (1981) G2 31
08 Instruments relating to Protection of Children H  
08 01 Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) H1 58a
08 01 01 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts (1999)    
08 01 02 Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (1999)    
08 02 Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and Welfare of Children, with Special Reference to Foster Placement and Adoption Nationally and Internationally (1986)    
08 03 European Convention on the Legal Status of Children Born Out of Wedlock (1975) H2 59
08 04 European Convention on the Exercise of Children's Rights (1996)   58c
08 05 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990) H3 58b
09 Instruments relating to Protection of Aliens, Refugees, Stateless Persons K  
09 01 Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (1950)    
09 02 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951) K1 37
09 03 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (1954) K3 42
09 04 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness (1961) K4 43
09 05 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees (1966) K2 38
09 06 Declaration on Territorial Asylum (1967)    
09 07 Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals Who are not Nationals of the Country in which They Live (1985)    
09 08 OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (1969) K5 39
09 09 European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees (1951) K6 40
09 10 European Agreement on Transfer of Responsibility for Refugees (1980) K7 41
09 11 European Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level (1992)    
09 12 European Convention on Nationality (1997)   29a
09 13 OAS Convention relative to the Rights of Aliens (1902)    
09 14 OAS Convention on the Status of Aliens (1928)    
10 Instruments relating to the Protection of Workers (Including Migrant Workers) L  
10 01 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers (1990) L1 43a
10 02 ILO Convention (No. 11) concerning the Rights of Association and Combination of Agricultural Workers (1921) L2  
10 03 ILO Convention (No. 87) concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) L3 47
10 04 ILO Convention (No. 97) concerning Migration for Employment (1949) L4 44
10 05 ILO Convention (No. 98) concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and Bargain Collectively (1949) L5 48
10 06 ILO Convention (No. 122) concerning Employment Policy (1964) L6 49
10 07 ILO Convention (No. 135) concerning Protection and Facilities to be Afforded to Workers' Representatives in the Undertaking (1971) L7 50
10 08 ILO Convention (No. 141) concerning Organisations of Rural Workers and their Role in Economic and Social Development (1975) L8 51
10 09 ILO Convention (No. 143) concerning Migrations in Abusive Conditions and the Promotion of Equality of Opportunity and Treatment of Migrant Workers (1975) L9 45
10 10 ILO Convention (No. 151) concerning Protection of the Right to Organise and Procedures for Determining Conditions of Employment in the Public Service (1978) L10 52
10 11 ILO Convention (No. 154) concerning the Promotion of Collective Bargaining (1981)     
10 12 ILO Convention (No. 168) concerning Employment Promotion and Protection against Unemployment (1988)    
10 13 European Convention on the Legal Status of Migrant Workers (1977) L11 46
11 Instruments relating to Protection of Women M  
11 01 Convention on the Political Rights of Women (1952) M1 53
11 02 Convention on the Nationality of Married Women (1957) M2 54
11 03 Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages (1962) M3 58
11 04 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) M4 68
11 04 01 Optional Protocol on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1999)    
11 05 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993)    
11 06 OAS Convention on the Nationality of Women (1933) M5 57
11 07 Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Political Rights to Women (1948) M6 55
11 08 Inter-American Convention on the Granting of Civil Rights to Women (1948) M7 56
11 09 Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (1994)   57a
12 Instruments relating to Protection of Combatants, Prisoners and Civilians in Armed Conflict N  
12 01 Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field (1949) N1 60
12 02 Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of the Armed Forces at Sea (1949) N2 61
12 03 Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949) N3 62
12 04 Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (1949) N4 63
12 05 Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I) (1977) N5 64
12 05 01 Declaration Regarding Article 90 of Protocol I (concerning the competence of the International Fact-Finding Commissions) (1990) N6 64i
12 06 Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II) (1977) N7 65
12 07 Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict (1974)    
12 08 European Convention on the Compensation of Victims of Violent Crimes (1983)    
13 Instruments relating to Protection of Indigenous Peoples and Minorities P  
13 01 Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)    
13 02 ILO Revised Convention (No. 169) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (1989) P1 46a
13 03 European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (1992) P2 46b
13 04 Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1994)   46c
14 Instruments relating to the Right of Self-determination    
14 01 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (1960)    
15 Instruments relating to the Right to Life and Physical Integrity    
15 01 Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984) D3 25
15 01 01 Declarations Regarding Article 21 of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel Treatment or Punishment (concerning the competence of the Committee against Torture to receive communications from states) (1987) D4 25i
15 01 02 Declarations Regarding Article 22 of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel Treatment (concerning the competence of the Committee against Torture to receive communications from individuals) (1987) D5 25ii
15 02 Safeguards guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of Those Facing the Death Penalty (1984)    
15 03 Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions (1989)    
15 04 Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (1992)    
16 Instruments relating to Treatment of Prisoners    
16 01 Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (1955)    
16 02 Principles of Medical Ethics relevant to the Role of Health Personnel, particularly Physicians, in the Protection of Prisoners and Detainees against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1982)    
16 03 Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment (1988)    
16 04 Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners (1990)    
16 05 United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty (1990)    
17 Instruments relating to the Judiciary and Law Enforcement    
17 01 Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials (1979)    
17 02 United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (The Beijing Rules) (1985)    
17 03 Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power (1985)    
17 04 Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary (1985)    
17 05 Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials (1990)    
17 06 Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990)    
17 07 Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors (1990)    
17 08 United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (The Tokyo Rules) (1990)    
17 09 United Nations Guidelines for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency (The Riyadh Guidelines) (1990)    
18 Instruments relating to Social Welfare, Progress and Development    
18 01 Declaration on the Promotion among Youth of the Ideals of Peace, Mutual Respect and Understanding between Peoples (1965)    
18 02 Declaration on Social Progress and Development (1969)    
18 03 Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons (1971)    
18 04 Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition (1974)    
18 05 Declaration on the Use of Scientific and Technological Progress in the Interests of Peace and for the Benefit of Mankind (1975)    
18 06 Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons (1975)    
18 07 Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace (1984)    
18 08 Declaration on the Right to Development (1986)    
18 09 Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care (1991)    
19 Instruments relating to Social Security    
19 01 ILO Convention (No. 102) concerning Minimum Standards of Social Security (1952)   32
19 02 European Code of Social Security (1964)   33
19 02 01 Protocol to the European Code of Social Security (1964)   34
19 03 European Code of Social Security (Revised) (1990)   34a
19 04 European Convention on Social Security (1972)   35
19 04 01 Supplementary Agreement for the Application of the European Convention on Social Security (1972)   36
19 04 02 Protocol to the European Convention on Social Security (1994)   36a
20 Instruments relating to Bioethics    
20 01 UNESCO Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights (1996)    
20 02 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (1997)   36b
20 02 01 Additional Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine, on the Prohibition of Cloning Human Beings 1998)    
21 Instruments relating to Cultural Rights    
21 01 Universal Copyright Convention (1952, 1971)    
21 02 UNESCO Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954)    
21 03 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970)    
21 04 UNESCO Declaration of the Principles of International Cultural Co-operation (1966)    
21 05 UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972)    
21 06 UNESCO Recommendation concerning Education for International Understanding, Co-operation and Peace and Education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1974)    
21 07 European Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (1985)    
22 Instruments relating to Human Rights Defenders    
22 01 Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (2000)    
23 Instruments relating to Transnational Organised Crime    
23 01 United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (2000)    
23 01 01 Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Air and Sea, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (2000)    
23 01 02 Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (2000)    
90 Other    

(1) Dueck, Judith, and Aída María Noval. "Supporting Document L: List of Instruments." HURIDOCS Standard Formats: Supporting Documents. Oslo: HURIDOCS, 1993. 123-127.

(2) Marie, Jean-Bernard. "International Instruments Relating to Human Rights : Classification and Status of Ratification as of 1 January 1998." Human Rights Law Journal. 19.2-4 (1998): 117-134.

(3) Symonides, Janusz, and Vladimir Volodin. Human Rights: Major International Instruments: Status as at 31 May 2000 = Droits de l'Homme: Les Principaux Instruments Internationaux: Etat au 31 Mai 2000. Paris: UNESCO. Sector of Social and Human Sciences. Division of Human Rights, Democracy, Peace and Tolerance, 2000. On-line version at http://www.unesco.org/human_rights/hrcontent.htm.

(4) Council of Europe. Treaty Office. Complete List of the Council of Europe's Treaties. Council of Europe. Treaty Office 12 Nov. 2001. http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/EN/cadreprincipal.htm.
International Committee of the Red Cross. International Humanitarian Law. International Committee of the Red Cross. 12 Nov. 2001. http://www.icrc.org/eng/ihl.
International Labour Organization. International Labour Standards according to the Classified Guide. International Labour Organization. 12 Nov. 2001. http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/norm/whatare/stndards/index.htm.
Organization of American States. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Basic Documents pertaining to Human Rights in the Interamerican System. Organization of American States. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. 12 Nov. 2001. http://www.cidh.oas.org/basic.htm.
United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. Conventions and Agreements of a Standard-Setting Nature Adopted under the Auspices of UNESCO Solely or Jointly with Other International Organizations. United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization. 12 Nov. 2001. http://www.unesco.org/general/eng/legal/index.shtml.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. International Human Rights Instruments. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 12 Nov. 2001. http://www.unhchr.ch/html/intlinst.htm
University of Minnesota. Human Rights Library. African Human Rights Instruments. Human Rights Library. University of Minnesota. 12 Nov. 2001. http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/afrinst.htm